[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 7, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51515-51521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-24217]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Parts 679 and 680
[Docket No. 080312430-91317-02]
RIN 0648-AW56
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Western
Alaska Community Development Quota Program, Rockfish Program, Amendment
80 Program; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area Crab Rationalization
Program
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: NMFS issues regulations to provide harvesting cooperatives,
crab processing quota share holders, and Western Alaska Community
Development Quota (CDQ) groups with the option to make intercooperative
transfers, crab individual processing quota transfers, and inter-group
transfers through an automated, web-based process. To facilitate web-
based transfers, NMFS removes the requirement for notarized signatures
for all crab non-permanent leases of individual fishing quota and
individual processor quota and removes unnecessary quota share price-
related questions. The purpose of this action is to reduce paperwork
burdens on the fishing industry by providing the option of electronic
transfer through the Internet. This action allows cooperatives,
processors, and CDQ groups to shorten response time to management,
market, weather, and other fishery and operational conditions and to
increase harvesting and processing efficiency. This action also removes
detailed description of information required on application forms from
regulatory text; removes detailed NMFS mail, fax, and delivery
addresses and replaces them with one paragraph stating that the form
may be submitted in accordance with instructions on the form; removes
outdated survey-type questions from two applications; divides one
application into three separate applications; revises the NMFS Alaska
Region web address; and corrects cross-references.
DATES: Effective November 6, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), the
Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
[[Page 51516]]
(FRFA), and the Categorical Exclusion prepared for this action may be
obtained from the Alaska Region website at http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other
aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this
final rule may be submitted by mail to NMFS, Alaska Region, P. O. Box
21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668, Attn: Ellen Sebastian, Records Officer;
in person at NMFS, Alaska Region, 709 West 9th Street, Room 420A,
Juneau, Alaska to NMFS, Alaska Region; and by e-mail to [email protected], or fax to 202-395-7285.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patsy A. Bearden, 907-586-7008.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the U.S. groundfish fisheries
in the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska under the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management
Area (BSAI FMP) and the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the
Gulf of Alaska (GOA FMP). The crab fisheries are managed under the
Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner
Crabs (Crab FMP). The BSAI FMP, GOA FMP, and Crab FMP were prepared by
the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) under the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act). Regulations implementing the FMPs appear at 50 CFR part
679 and part 680. General regulations that pertain to U.S. fisheries
appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600.
Background
The Council has adopted and NMFS has implemented numerous
management programs that allocate quota share and associated harvesting
or processing privileges to qualified entities and authorize transfer
of these privileges among qualified entities upon approval by NMFS. The
following four programs authorize transfers of quota shares under
particular circumstances -- the Western Alaska Community Development
Quota (CDQ) Program, the Central GOA Rockfish Pilot Program (Rockfish
Program), Amendment 80 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (Amendment 80
Program), and the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area Crab
Rationalization (CR) Program.
Currently, applications for transfers must be submitted to NMFS by
mail, courier, or fax. The current hard-copy application transfer
process is too slow to meet operational and market demands of fishery
participants. The efficacy of the current system of transfers is
limited by NMFS business hours; requirements for original application
documents and notarized signatures; and the lengths of time needed for
application submission, approval, and receipt of permits.
To address these limitations, NMFS published a proposed rule on May
26, 2009 (74 FR 24762) that would provide harvesting cooperatives, crab
processing quota share holders, and CDQ groups the option to make
intercooperative transfers, crab individual processing quota transfers,
and inter-group transfers through an automated, web-based process. To
facilitate web-based transfers, NMFS proposed to remove the requirement
for notarized signatures for all crab non-permanent leases of
individual fishing quota and individual processor quota and removed
unnecessary quota share price-related questions.
Electronic transfer service also benefits NMFS because this
procedure reduces existing transfer processing labor needs, improves
data quality, and promotes the objectives of the Government Paperwork
Elimination Act. A full description of the need for this action and
proposed regulatory changes is provided in the preamble to the proposed
rule.
Summary of Final Rule
This rule accomplishes three broad goals. First, it reduces
paperwork burdens placed on the fishing industry by providing the
option for electronic transfer through the Internet. Second, it
modifies the methods used to conduct transfers which allow
cooperatives, processors, and CDQ groups to shorten response time to
management, market, weather, and other fishery and operational
conditions and increases harvesting and processing efficiency. Third,
it accomplishes a variety of ''housekeeping'' revisions to the
regulations which:
Remove detailed descriptions of applications from
regulatory text;
Remove detailed NMFS mail, fax, and delivery addresses and
replace them with a general, instructional paragraph pointing the
participant to the form;
Remove outdated survey-type questions from two
applications;
Divide one application into three separate applications;
Revise the NMFS Alaska Region web address as it appears in
the regulations to http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov; and
Correct cross-references.
NMFS published the proposed rule for this action in the Federal
Register on May 26, 2009 (74 FR 24762), with a public comment period
that closed June 10, 2009. NMFS received no comments. Additional
information about this action can be found in the proposed rule.
Changes From the Proposed Rule
50 CFR 679.81(f) describes the application for inter-cooperative
transfer of rockfish cooperative quota. Section 679.81(f)(1) describes
the requirements to submit a completed application, whether non-
electronic or electronic. The proposed rule did not include a current
transfer requirement. The regulations at Sec. 679.81(f)(1)(v) and (vi)
currently set forth the requirement for signature of the associated
rockfish processor. This requirement was overlooked and not included in
the proposed rule. The final rule corrects this omission and the
associated processor will continue to be included as a party to a
catcher vessel sector transfer of cooperative quota.
Classification
Pursuant to Section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the NMFS
Acting Assistant Administrator has determined that this rule is
necessary for the conservation and management of the Alaska groundfish
and crab fisheries managed under the FMPs and that it is consistent
with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable laws.
This final rule has been determined to be not significant for
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA)
An FRFA was prepared for this rule, as required by section 604 of
the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). Copies of the FRFA prepared for
this final rule are available from the Alaska Region website at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The FRFA incorporates the IRFA and a summary
of the analysis completed to support the action. A summary of the FRFA
follows.
Why Action by the Agency is Being Considered and Objectives of, and
Legal Basis for, the Rule
The FRFA describes in detail the reasons why this action is
necessary, describes the objectives and legal basis for the rule, and
discusses both small and non-small regulated entities to adequately
characterize the fishery participants. The Magnuson-Stevens Act
provides the legal basis for the rule, as discussed in this preamble.
The objectives of the rule are to: (1) maintain recordkeeping and
reporting
[[Page 51517]]
requirements for the impacted programs that provide the information
necessary to manage the fisheries and to enforce Federal regulations
applicable to the programs, (2) reduce the time, effort, and
documentation involved in the process of making quota transfers, and
(3) maintain the overall economic and social goals and purpose of the
programs.
Number of Small Entities to Which the Final Rule Would Apply
For purposes of an FRFA, the Small Business Administration (SBA)
has established that a business involved in fish harvesting is a small
business if it is independently owned and operated, not dominant in its
field of operation (including its affiliates), and if it has combined
annual gross receipts not in excess of $4.0 million for all its
affiliated operations worldwide. A seafood processor is a small
business if it is independently owned and operated, not dominant in its
field of operation, and employs 500 or fewer persons on a full-time,
part-time, temporary, or other basis, at all its affiliated operations
worldwide.
Because the SBA does not have a size criterion for businesses that
are involved in both the harvesting and processing of seafood products,
NMFS has in the past applied and continues to apply SBA's fish
harvesting criterion for these businesses because catcher/processors
are first and foremost fish harvesting businesses. Therefore, a
business involved in both the harvesting and processing of seafood
products is a small business if it meets the $4.0 million criterion for
fish harvesting operations. NMFS currently is reviewing its small
entity size classification for all catcher/processors in the United
States. However, until new guidance is adopted, NMFS will continue to
use the annual receipts standard for catcher/processors. NMFS plans to
issue new guidance in the near future.
The FRFA contains a more detailed description and estimate of the
number of small entities to which the rule would apply.
Currently, 642 entities hold quota shares and would now be
authorized to conduct transfers online. Estimates of large entities
were made, based on available records of employment information on
participation in processing activities in other fisheries, and
analysts' knowledge of foreign ownership of vertically integrated
processing companies. Of the 642 recipients of quota, 294 are estimated
to be large entities, leaving 348 small entities among the directly
regulated universe affected by this final rule.
Public Comments Received on the IRFA
NMFS did not receive any public comments on the IRFA or on the
economic impacts of the rule.
Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance Requirements
This rule changes existing reporting, recordkeeping, or other
compliance requirements by providing the convenience and flexibility
offered by electronic communication technology to conduct logistically
and economically efficient transfers of fishing ``quota'' among program
operations, subject to NMFS' approval.
Comparison of Alternatives
All the directly regulated individuals would be expected to benefit
from the preferred alternative, Alternative 2 (described in this rule),
relative to the status quo alternative because it creates a new option
to transfer quota ``online'' among participants within each respective
management program. It is expected to reduce their reporting
requirements, increase operational flexibility, enhance potential for
collaboration and coordination among transferors and transferees, and
provide an augmented ability to respond in a timely way to market
changes. Of the two alternatives considered, status quo and this
action, this action minimizes adverse economic impacts on the
individuals that are directly regulated and reflects the least
burdensome of management structures available, in terms of directly
regulated small entities, while fully achieving the conservation and
management purposes consistent with applicable statutes.
NMFS initially considered an alternative that would have required
use of the online systems, rather than making them optional. NMFS
rejected this alternative, because NMFS could not be certain that all
entities in all impacted industry sectors are capable of submitting
forms electronically. For any that are not, such a mandate would have
imposed an unnecessary and disproportionate economic burden.
Small Entity Compliance Guide
The preamble to the proposed rule and this final rule serve as the
small entity compliance guide required by Section 212 of the Small
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This action does
not require any additional compliance from small entities that is not
described in the preamble. Copies of this final rule are available from
NMFS at the following website: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
Collection-of-Information Requirements
This rule contains collection-of-information requirements subject
to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) and which have been approved by
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Public reporting burden
estimates per response for these requirements are listed by OMB control
number.
OMB Control No. 0648-0269: 30 minutes for CDQ or PSQ Transfer
Request.
OMB Control No. 0648-0514: Two hours for Application for Transfer
of Crab QS, IFQ, and IPQ; this form will be removed from this
collection, and the following three new forms will be added in its
place. Two hours each for: Application for Transfer of Crab Individual
Fishing Quota, Application for Transfer of Individual Processor Quota,
Application for Transfer of Crab Quota Share and Crab Processor Quota
Share; Application for Transfer of Individual Fishing Quota Between
Crab Harvesting Cooperatives; and two and one half hours for
Application for Annual Crab Harvester Cooperative IFQ Permit.
OMB Control No. 0648-0565: Two hours for Application to Transfer
Amendment 80 Cooperative Quota.
OMB Control No. 0648-0545: Two hours for Application for Inter-
cooperative Transfer of Rockfish Quota Share.
Public reporting estimates include the time for reviewing
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the
collection-of-information.
Send comments on these or any other aspects of the collection-of-
information to NMFS Alaska Region (see ADDRESSES) and e-mail to [email protected], or fax to 202-395-7285.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty
for failure to comply with, a collection-of-information subject to the
requirements of the PRA, unless that collection-of-information displays
a currently valid OMB Control Number.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Parts 679 and 680
Alaska, Fisheries, Recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
[[Page 51518]]
Dated: October 1, 2009
John Oliver,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Operations, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
0
For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR parts 679 and 680 are
amended as follows:
PART 679--FISHERIES OF THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OFF ALASKA
0
1. The authority citation for part 679 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 1801 et seq.; 3631 et seq.;
Pub. L. 108-447.
0
2. In Sec. 679.5, revise paragraph (n)(1) to read as follows:
Sec. 679.5 Recordkeeping and reporting (R&R).
* * * * *
(n) * * *
(1) CDQ or PSQ transfer. NMFS will process a request for CDQ or PSQ
transfer between CDQ groups provided that the requirements of this
paragraph are met.
(i) Completed application. A paper or electronic request form must
be completed with all information fields accurately filled in by
transferors and transferees, and all required additional documentation
must be attached.
(ii) Certification of transferor--(A) Non-electronic submittal. The
transferor's designated representative must sign and date the
application certifying that all information is true, correct, and
complete. The transferor's designated representative must submit the
paper application as indicated on the application.
(B) Electronic submittal. The transferor's designated
representative must log into the system and create a transfer request
as indicated on the computer screen. By using the transferor's NMFS ID,
password, and Transfer Key and submitting the transfer request, the
designated representative certifies that all information is true,
correct, and complete.
(iii) Certification of transferee--(A) Non-electronic submittal.
The transferee's designated representative must sign and date the
application certifying that all information is true, correct, and
complete.
(B) Electronic submittal. The transferee's designated
representative must log into the system and create a transfer request
as indicated on the computer screen. By using the transferee's NMFS ID,
password, and Transfer Key and submitting the transfer request, the
designated representative certifies that all information is true,
correct, and complete.
* * * * *
0
3. In Sec. 679.81, add paragraph (e)(1)(iv); and revise paragraphs
(e)(2) and (f) to read as follows:
Sec. 679.81 Rockfish Program annual harvester and processor
privileges.
* * * * *
(e) * * *
(1) * * *
(iv) Electronic: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
(2) Application forms. Application forms are available on the NMFS
Alaska Region website at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov, or by
contacting NMFS at 800-304-4846, Option 2.
* * * * *
(f) Application for inter-cooperative transfer of cooperative quota
(CQ)--(1) Completed application. NMFS will process an application for
inter-cooperative transfer of cooperative quota (CQ) provided that a
paper or electronic online transfer application is completed by the
transferor and transferee, with all applicable fields accurately
filled-in, and all required additional documentation is attached.
(2) Certification of transferor--(i) Non-electronic submittal. The
transferor's designated representative and the eligible rockfish
processor with whom that rockfish cooperative in the catcher vessel
sector is associated must sign and date the application certifying that
all information is true, correct, and complete. The transferor's
designated representative must submit the paper application as
indicated on the application.
(ii) Electronic submittal. (A) The transferor's designated
representative must log into the system and create a transfer request
as indicated on the computer screen. By using the transferor's NMFS ID,
password, and Transfer Key and submitting the transfer request, the
designated representative certifies that all information is true,
correct, and complete.
(B) (Catcher vessel transfer to catcher vessel only) The
transferor's eligible rockfish processor must log into the system and
accept the transfer request. By using the processor's NMFS ID,
password, and Transfer Key, the designated representative certifies
that all information is true, correct, and complete.
(3) Certification of transferee--(i) Non-electronic submittal. The
transferee's designated representative and the eligible rockfish
processor with whom that rockfish cooperative in the catcher vessel
sector is associated must sign and date the application certifying that
all information is true, correct, and complete.
(ii) Electronic submittal
(A) (Catcher vessel transfer to catcher vessel or catcher/processor
transfer to catcher vessel only) The transferee's eligible rockfish
processor must log into the system and accept the transfer request. By
using the processor's NMFS ID, password, and Transfer Key, the
designated representative certifies that all information is true,
correct, and complete.
(B) The transferee must log into the system and accept the transfer
request. By using the transferee's NMFS ID, password, and Transfer Key,
the designated representative certifies that all information is true,
correct, and complete.
* * * * *
0
4. In Sec. 679.91, add paragraph (b)(1)(iv); and revise paragraphs
(b)(2) and (g) to read as follows:
Sec. 679.91 Amendment 80 Program annual harvester privileges.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(1) * * *
(iv) Electronic: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
(2) Application forms. Application forms are available on the NMFS
Alaska Region website at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov, or by
contacting NMFS at 800-304-4846, Option 2.
* * * * *
(g) Application for inter-cooperative transfer of Amendment 80 CQ--
(1) Completed application. NMFS will process an application for inter-
cooperative transfer of Amendment 80 cooperative quota (CQ) provided
that a paper or electronic application is completed by the transferor
and transferee, with all applicable fields accurately filled in, and
all required additional documentation is attached.
(2) Amendment 80 species CQ assignment. Amendment 80 species CQ
must be assigned to a member of the Amendment 80 cooperative receiving
the CQ for purposes of use cap calculations. No member of an Amendment
80 cooperative may exceed the CQ use cap applicable to that member.
(3) Total amount of Amendment 80 species CQ. For purposes of
Amendment 80 species CQ use cap calculations, the total amount of
Amendment 80 species CQ held or used by a person is equal to all metric
tons of Amendment 80 species CQ derived
[[Page 51519]]
from all Amendment 80 QS units on all Amendment 80 QS permits held by
that person and assigned to the Amendment 80 cooperative and all metric
tons of Amendment 80 species CQ assigned to that person by the
Amendment 80 cooperative from approved transfers.
(4) Amendment 80 QS units. The amount of Amendment 80 QS units held
by a person, and CQ derived from those Amendment 80 QS units, is
calculated using the individual and collective use cap rule established
in Sec. 679.92(a).
(5) Certification of transferor--(i) Non-electronic submittal. The
transferor's designated representative must sign and date the
application certifying that all information is true, correct, and
complete. The transferor's designated representative must submit the
paper application as indicated on the application.
(ii) Electronic submittal. The transferor's designated
representative must log into the system and create a transfer request
as indicated on the computer screen. By using the transferor's NMFS ID,
password, and Transfer Key and submitting the transfer request, the
designated representative certifies that all information is true,
correct, and complete.
(6) Certification of transferee--(i) Non-electronic submittal. The
transferee's designated representative must sign and date the
application certifying that all information is true, correct, and
complete.
(ii) Electronic submittal. The transferee's designated
representative must log into the system and accept the transfer request
as indicated on the computer screen. By using the transferee's NMFS ID,
password and Transfer Key, the designated representative certifies that
all information is true, correct, and complete.
* * * * *
PART 680--SHELLFISH FISHERIES OF THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OFF
ALASKA
0
5. The authority citation for part 680 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1862; Pub. L. 109-241; Pub. L. 109-479.
0
6. In Sec. 680.5, revise paragraphs (a)(2)(i)(G), (g)(1), and (g)(2)
to read as follows:
Sec. 680.5 Recordkeeping and reporting (R&R).
(a) * * *
(2) * * *
(i) * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Person
Recordkeeping and reporting report responsible Reference
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
(G) CR Crab Landing Report RCR Sec.
679.5(e)
* * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
(g) * * *
(1) Applicability. An RCR or the RCR's authorized representative,
who receives any CR crab pursuant to Sec. 680.44 must submit to NMFS
online a complete RCR fee form as instructed on the form at NMFS Alaska
Region website at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
(2) Due date and submittal. The reporting period of the RCR fee
submission shall be the crab fishing year. An RCR must submit any crab
cost recovery fee liability payment(s) and the RCR fee submission form
to NMFS online not later than July 31 following the crab fishing year
in which the CR crab landings were made.
* * * * *
0
7. In Sec. 680.20, add paragraph (a)(3); and revise paragraphs (d)(3),
(d)(4), (e)(5), (f)(4)(ii)(B), (g)(2)(viii)(C)(2), and (h)(6)
introductory text to read as follows:
Sec. 680.20 Arbitration System.
(a) * * *
(3) Document submittal information. Submit documents and reports to
NMFS as follows: by mail to the Regional Administrator, NMFS, P.O. Box
21668, Juneau, AK 99802; by courier to NMFS, 709 West 9th Street,
Juneau, AK 99801; or by fax to 907-586-7465.
* * * * *
(d) * * *
(3) An Arbitration Organization, with members who are QS or PQS
holders, must submit a complete Annual Arbitration Organization Report
to NMFS in accordance with paragraph (a)(3) of this section by August
20, 2005, for the crab fishing year beginning on July 1, 2005, and by
May 1 of each subsequent year for the crab fishing year beginning on
July 1 of that year.
(4) An Arbitration Organization, with members who are IFQ or IPQ
holders, must submit a complete Annual Arbitration Organization Report
to NMFS in accordance with paragraph (a)(3) of this section by not
later than 15 days after the issuance of IFQ and IPQ for that crab QS
fishery.
(e) * * *
(5) Notification to NMFS. Not later than June 1 for that crab
fishing year, except as provided in paragraph (e)(6) of this section,
the Arbitration Organizations representing the holders of Arbitration
QS and PQS in each fishery shall notify NMFS of the persons selected as
the Market Analyst, Formula Arbitrator, and Contract Arbitrator(s) for
the fishery in accordance with paragraph (a)(3) of this section.
* * * * *
(f) * * *
(4) * * *
(ii) * * *
(B) NMFS Alaska Region in accordance with paragraph (a)(3) of this
section; and
* * * * *
(g) * * *
(2) * * *
(viii) * * *
(C) * * *
(2) NMFS in accordance with paragraph (a)(3) of this section; and
* * * * *
(h) * * *
(6) Information provided to NMFS. The Contract Arbitrator must
provide any information, documents, or data required under this
paragraph to NMFS in accordance with paragraph (a)(3) of this section
not later than 30 days prior to the end of the crab fishing year for
which the open negotiation or arbitration applied. The contract with
the Contract Arbitrator must specify that the Contract Arbitrator
provide NMFS with:
* * * * *
0
8. In Sec. 680.21, revise paragraph (f) to read as follows:
Sec. 680.21 Crab harvesting cooperatives.
* * * * *
(f) Application for transfer of crab harvesting cooperative IFQ--
(1) Completed application. NMFS will process an application for
transfer of crab harvesting cooperative individual fishing quota (IFQ)
provided that a paper or electronic request form is completed by the
applicant, with all applicable fields accurately filled in, and all
required additional documentation is attached.
(2) Certification of transferor--(i) Non-electronic submittal. The
transferor's designated representative must sign and date the
application certifying that all information is true, correct, and
complete. The transferor's designated representative must submit the
paper application as indicated on the application.
(ii) Electronic submittal. The transferor's designated
representative
[[Page 51520]]
must log into the system and create a transfer request as indicated on
the computer screen. By using the transferor's NMFS ID, password, and
Transfer Key and submitting the transfer request, the designated
representative certifies that all information is true, correct, and
complete.
(3) Certification of transferee--(i) Non-electronic submittal. The
transferee's designated representative must sign and date the
application certifying that all information is true, correct, and
complete.
(ii) Electronic submittal. The transferee's designated
representative must log into the system and accept the transfer request
as indicated on the computer screen. By using the transferee's NMFS ID,
password, and Transfer Key, the designated representative certifies
that all information is true, correct, and complete.
(4) Submittal information. An application for transfer of crab
harvesting cooperative IFQ crab QS or PQS may be submitted to NMFS as
instructed on the application. Forms are available on the NMFS Alaska
Region website at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov, or by contacting
NMFS at 800-304-4846, Option 2.
* * * * *
0
9. In Sec. 680.40, revise the section heading, paragraph (f) heading,
and paragraph (f)(1)(ii) to read as follows:
Sec. 680.40 Crab Quota Share (QS), Processor QS (PQS), Individual
Fishing Quota (IFQ), and Individual Processor Quota (IPQ) Issuance.
* * * * *
(f) Application for crab QS or PQS.
(1) * * *
(ii) An application for crab QS or PQS may be submitted to NMFS as
instructed on the application. Forms are available on the NMFS Alaska
Region website at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov, or by contacting
NMFS at 800-304-4846, Option 2.
* * * * *
0
10. In Sec. 680.41, revise paragraphs (b) and (h) to read as follows:
Sec. 680.41 Transfer of QS, PQS, IFQ and IPQ.
* * * * *
(b) Transfer applications--(1) Application. An application is
required to transfer any amount of QS, PQS, IFQ, or IPQ. A transfer
application will not be approved until the necessary eligibility
application has been submitted and approved by NMFS in accordance with
paragraph (c) of this section. The Regional Administrator will not
approve any transfers of QS, PQS, IFQ, or IPQ in any crab QS fishery
from August 1 until the date of the issuance of IFQ or IPQ for that
crab QS fishery.
(2) Notification of application approval or disapproval. Persons
submitting any application for approval under Sec. 680.41 will receive
notification of the Regional Administrator's decision to approve or
disapprove the application, and if applicable, the reason(s) for
disapproval.
(3) Reasons for disapproval. Reasons for disapproval of an
application include, but are not limited to:
(i) Lack of U.S. citizenship, where U.S. citizenship is required;
(ii) Failure to meet minimum requirements for sea time as a member
of a harvesting crew;
(iii) An incomplete application, including fees and an EDR, if
required;
(iv) An untimely application; or
(v) Fines, civil penalties, or other payments due and owing, or
outstanding permit sanctions resulting from Federal fishery violations.
(4) QS, PQS, IFQ, or IPQ accounts. (i) QS, PQS, IFQ, or IPQ
accounts affected by a transfer approved by the Regional Administrator
will change on the date of approval.
(ii) For non-electronic submittals, any necessary IFQ or IPQ
permits will be sent with the notification of approval if the receiver
of the IFQ or IPQ permit has completed an annual application for crab
IFQ or IPQ permit for the current fishing year as required under Sec.
680.4.
(iii) For electronic submittals, the parties to the transfer would
access and print approvals and permits online.
(5) Submittal. Submit applications and other documents to NMFS as
instructed on the application. Forms are available on the NMFS Alaska
Region website at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov, or by contacting
NMFS at: 800-304-4846, Option 2.
* * * * *
(h) Applications for transfer--(1) Application for transfer of crab
IFQ. NMFS will process a request for transfer of crab individual
fishing quota (IFQ) provided that a paper application is completed,
with all information fields accurately filled in, and all required
additional documentation is attached. The transferor's and the
transferee's designated representatives must sign and date the
application certifying that all information is true, correct, and
complete. The transferor's designated representative must submit the
paper application as indicated on the application.
(2) Application for transfer of crab IPQ--(i) Completed
application. NMFS will process a request for transfer of crab
individual processor quota (IPQ) provided that a paper or electronic
request form is completed, with all information fields accurately
filled in, and all required additional documentation is attached.
(ii) Certification of transferor--(A) Non-electronic submittal. The
transferor's designated representative must sign and date the
application certifying that all information is true, correct, and
complete. The transferor's designated representative must submit the
paper application as indicated on the application.
(B) Electronic submittal. The transferor's designated
representative must log into the system and create a transfer request
as indicated on the computer screen. By using the transferor's NMFS ID,
password, and Transfer Key and submitting the transfer request, the
designated representative certifies that all information is true,
correct, and complete.
(iii) Certification of transferee--(A) Non-electronic submittal.
The transferee's designated representative must sign and date the
application certifying that all information is true, correct, and
complete.
(B) Electronic submittal. The transferee's designated
representative must log into the system and accept the transfer request
as indicated on the computer screen. By using the transferee's NMFS ID,
password and Transfer Key and submitting the transfer request, the
designated representative certifies that all information is true,
correct, and complete.
(3) Application for transfer of crab QS or PQS. NMFS will process a
request for transfer of crab quota share (QS) or crab processor quota
share (PQS) provided that a paper request form is completed and
notarized, with all information fields accurately filled in, and all
required additional documentation is attached. The transferor's and the
transferee's designated representatives must sign and date the
application certifying that all information is true, correct, and
complete.
* * * * *
0
11. In Sec. 680.44, revise paragraph (a)(4)(iii) to read as follows:
Sec. 680.44 Cost recovery.
(a) * * *
(4) * * *
(iii) Payment address. Submit payment and related documents as
instructed on the fee form; payments may also be submitted
electronically to NMFS. Forms are available on the
[[Page 51521]]
NMFS Alaska Region website at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov, or by
contacting NMFS at: 800-304-4846, Option 2.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. E9-24217 Filed 10-6-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S